Internal-combustion motor with cylinders arranged concentrically about and parallel with the driveshaft



June 12, 1951 2,556,585

E. M. JARVINEN INTERNAL-COMBUSTION MOTOR WITH CYLINDERS ARRANGED CONCENTRICALLY ABOUT AND PARALLEL WITH THE DRIVESHAFT Filed Nov. 15, 1946 INVENTOR. Eero Mat/as Jc'irvmen ATTORNEY Patented June 1 2, T951 9 1. 1,5:

UNITED TAT ES Finland Application November 15, 194B,--Seiial N0 7 10}I02 'In Sweden July 20, 1946 7 "The internal c'o'riibu's'tien meter with "cylinders arranged conee'n'trically about and parallel with the driveshaft is i'a known type. Ins'uch-motors thereciprocalmotion'of the 'pistons is tr ansni'itted to "the -drives'haft "of the motor by means 'of a cdmpli'catedsys-te'rh 6f levers which transform the "str'aight line movement-of-the pistons into a -rotational one of 'thisshaft. In-another type o'f'co'n- "sti'uctio'n the connecting rods act upon a'n impeller disc fastenedupon the shaft ina plan'e fIiiOt at right angles to it. this construction theends-of the connectingrcds are so arranged as to contact the impeller disc approximately in thefseg'ment (if that "disc nearest the cylinder b'iock at the be innin or thewo'rking stroke, the 'forward "stroke-of the piston (or connecting'red) thus resulting in 'fr'ot'ation of the impeller disc until at the fendfof the working'stroke the segjnn'td f thedisc"faithest flom the cylinder block lies approximately opposite the cylinde in 'tluestion. v

ln'all'previouslyknown machines of this type thefpistons have a reciprocal 'motionwi'th respect to "the fdri eshaft, "and tliemasse's thus forced 'to "suddenly change'their direction of inotion are often of considerable size. This situation calls for prec se balancing 'of the engine, "which in turn a'g'ain inc'r'eaise's "the size of the masses -'in 'In'otionanwyet ram tb' nfake thiseng'i'ne free of Vibration. Furthermor "such engines --are aways .edinpucated af g'reatdea'l 'by the nec ssity "for a lar'g'e nuniber ofb'earing's, l'eve'ls, balances, "etc.

The invention here disclosed intends an internal combustion m'otor 0f theftyp'e *mentioned in which the-diffililti's above Set folthale ihu al'ge degree or entirely eliminated. Thus the e'ng'ine almost *efitii ely "free of iiibr'a-ti'on, in -the manner of a turbine, since' it -has no reciprocating -"!nasses, there are no' lve'rs or crankshaft i n -tl1'e ii'su'al fs Elise, and the number 6f bafl'ifg's iS 'reduced to 'a niinihiuin. I A 'fnotor 'bui-l t according *to this patent is -cl'le'ii acterized chiefly 16y a drives'haft ooi'np'oseddf 'two -ormore partsconnected iivith uni'vers'al 'iiits and standin axially at an angre 130 'One andtrrer; at -le'a 's't one part f the s'ha'ft being-suitably 'me-dlited in be'arin'gs in-'a Siiaitiohairy'hgi'rfe'blcick and leitr irfg' at its nd iiefit the universn 'j'oi'li-t-a cynnaer bljock attached=to the shaft and rotating with tne s'an'ie, the cylinder liez'aicl being forn ewby the n'd su'rr ace of the engine block ing cl'o'se u'p to'the cylinder block and: at righ g'I'eS tO l-Jhe portion 6f th'e t'h'iVeshetft i n cuestio While enother por tion of 51 1 3 dfliishifhkrdfifitfl with tl'ie by a universal jointfandcohsisting-of two parts free to :move slightly axially in relation to one anotherbears an auxfliarydi'scorthelike securely fastened to it and standin g at right angles to this last mentioned portion of the driveshait, the ends of the conne'ctingrods projecting "from the cylinders-bearing on -the peripheral reg-ion of this disc and substantial-lmat-right angles to -itsplane, i. e. concentrically with-and, parallel to the -cor responding rportionof the-shaft, the other end of this last =mentioned portion of the shaft being {either mounted in a suitable=thrust bearing in the body of the engine gor "being coupled by a further universal joint to still another shaft portionbearing another cylinder block and mounted inhearings in a-secon d engine block like and firmly connected to the lirstgthe end surface of the engine block or'blocks ferming the icy linder head being "supplied at the spot where it has nearest the supporting disc-on therotation orbit of the cylinder-s nc, Wherethe pistons passingin'rotation come nearest thecylinder head, with a com -busti0n channel -serving as fuel injection :and combustion chamber, of such 'peripheralextent that it i connects two-adjacent cylinders with one another when they i ass it, thecylinder head being also equipped at a spot diametrically opposite channel, i. euwihere the pistons passing in rota- -tion are at theing-reatest distance from the cylinder head, with anexhaust portandradiallyadjacent fresh air intake port, the mo-tor being further equipped with arrangements 'for adjusting the interval -between ;the cylinder head and the cy1inder=bl0ch and with-arrangements for-equa1iz ing pressure diiiereneeshetweencylinders indifferent cylinder-blocksa-nd the continuous supply of fuel'to the same, as well as withawater cooling system, -an;oil lubricating system, and pos- .sibly an ignition system.

An advantageous form of execution of this invention comprises substantially a stationary engine block'of cylindrical aform consisting of two main; parts lying at a fixed axial interval from i'one another and integrally connected 'with one -anotherji'n*whihrandipassirrgthroughuthe center of 'which a shaft s'ectioh is mounted in bearings, the main portionswftheengine block-mentioned being so fpo'siti'oned *Wi-th rlation to one another that their shaft Faxes -formi'aifixed obtuse angle, the drive *shaft bf the fnotor =-thus -consisting :of

three sections 'zio'nnec'ted with one another universal joints, the two outer ends of the 'shaf t b'ei'ng -inouiited ih thfiist a'nii jdui'nal 'b'earings ih their iespeeuveenein portioneoh the engine biock,

the end surfaces of which facing each other are plane surfaces standing at right angles to the shaft sections respectively mounted in them, which surfaces form the cylinder heads for the cylinders of the motor, which latter are placed in the cylinder block rotating] about the outer sections of the (drive) shaft, the middle section of the shaft, connected by means of universal joints to the two outer sections, forming a like angle with each of these sections and bearing in its middle the auxiliary disc standing at right angles to this shaft section and mounted on both sides near its periphery with bearings for the ends of the connecting rods extending from the cylinders, in such manner that always two opposed connecting rods lie in one and the same axial line substantially at right angles to the plane of the auxiliary disc, the other ends of the connecting rods being flexibly joined to the pistons in the cylinders.

This form of execution of the motor last set forth will in the following be described with reference to the drawing appended further characteristics being given. Fig. I shows a partly sectional view of the motor, the one main portion of the motor being visible and the other only so much as is necessary for an understanding of how the motor works. This portion of the motor shown only in part is, for the rest, the mirror image of the part shown in its entirety. Fig. II is a partial section at the interstice between the rotating cylinder block and the fixed cylinder head showing the end surface of the cylinder head in one of the fixed main portions of the motor.

The motor consists of two fixed and substantially cylindrical blocks I and 2, which are immovably connected with one another, for example by means of connecting yokes (not shown) anchored about the circumference of the blocks. The whole unit is mounted on a firm base. The driveshaft of the motor consists of three sections, a middle section 3 and two outer sections 4 and 5. The sections of the shaft are connected with one another by means of the universal joints 6 and I. The shaft sections 4 and are centrally mounted in bearings in the cylindrical blocks I and 2, which blocks are so positioned with relation to one another that the shaft sections 4 and 5 stand at a fixed obtuse angle, the size of which depends on the length of stroke desired. The central section of the shaft 3 forms equal angles with the two outer sections 4 and 5. Each of the two outer shaft sections 4 and 5 is mounted in two journal bearings 8 and 9 in its respective stationary block I and 2. Adjacent to the respective outer load bearings 8 there is also a thrust bearing II] to take up any axial pressure that may possibly arise. The end surfaces of blocks I and 2 facing each other are shaped as plane, annular surfaces standing at right angles to the respective shaft sections 4 and 5 and forming the plane of contact, respectively II and I2, with the engine block of the cylinder head. The cylinders, respectively I3 and I4, are contained in annular cylinder blocks, respectively I5 and I6, which are centered on and fastened to the ends of the respective shaft sections 4 and 5 nearest the inner journal bearing 9, thus rotating with the driveshaft. In the example shown each cylinder block has twelve cylinders. The end of the cylinder block facing the stationary engine block is precisely machined to contact and slide on the cylinder head II and I2. In the cylinders are pistons I1 and I8.

On the central section of the shaft 3 is fastened an auxiliary disc I9 or the like for the connecting rods, positioned symmetrically to the main parts of the .motor. The ends, respectively 20 and 2|, of the connecting rods emerging from the cylinders are mounted'in bearings on the two sides of this auxiliary disc near its periphery, suitably with ball joints, in such a manner that they continuously maintain substantially a right angle to the plane of thedisc. The other ends of the connecting rods are attached in corresponding fashion to the pistons. The connecting rods 20 and 2| anchored on opposite sides of the disc I9 are opposed to each other in pairs. Thus the auxiliary disc I9, all the connecting rods 20, 2I, all the pistons I'I, I8, and the central section of the shaft 3 form together a unit rotating about its mathematical axis, the parts of which unit are practically immobile with relation to one another. The cylinder blocks I5 and I6 also form a part of this rotating unit. By reason of the angle between the different parts of the shaft, however, any point on the cylinder blocks will during rotation occupy extreme positions relative to the corresponding point on the other cylinder block and to the unit fastened directly to the central shaft section 3, seemingly oscillating between these extremes. However no real axial displacement in relation to shaft section 3 occurs. For the same reason the pistons I'I, I8 will also occupy extreme positions relative to the cylinder heads H and I2.

In those segments of the cylinder heads II, I2 situated nearest each other on the path of the cylinders there is in each cylinder head a peripheral combustion channel, respectively 22 and 23. The peripheral extent of each of these channels is so great that two adjacent cylinders are always placed in connection with one another through the channel on passing the same. A pressure tube 24 leads to each channel, each tube being equipped with a sparkplug 25 adjustable for depth of entrance into the tube. A fuel injection port 26 also projects into combustion channel 22. The same arrangements are to be found in the cylinder head 2. Diametrically opposite to the channels 22 and 23 the cylinder heads are equipped with an exhaust port, respectively 21 and 28, and with an air intake port, respectively 29 and 30. These ports connect respectively to the exhaust 3I and intake 32 manifolds. The peripheral extent of the exhaust ports 21, 28 is suitably somewhat greater than that of the intake ports 29, 30, the length of which latter can approximately correspond to the diameter of a cylinder.

The cylinder block and the portions of the stationary engine blocks I, 2 serving as cylinder heads are cooled in known fashion with water. To arrange for flow of the cooling water from the stationary cylinder head to the rotating cylinder block a recess 33 has been left in the center of the cylinder head and divided by means of the cylindrical partition 34 into two closed, annular chambers surrounding the end of shaft section 4. The cooling water is led into the inner annular chamber through pipe 35 and thence through conduits 36 into the water jacket of the cylinder block, whence it goes through the conduits 31 to the outer annular chamber and off through pipe 38. The cooling fluid is circulated in known fashion by means of a suitable pump.

The motor is also lubricated in known fashion by means of pressure lubricating system. For

ti a while the motor runs "the spa I V sary only when starting if me with a h'ig te i -M s n 1 ma a 2 th iiper sr nm r o a d t e h o .iah' t i u l hi i onn o 01 he in rkrili e i so fee??? S'trueted that it can after fignition f'r 'starting b with w fin qr iid .t'hirn' y he r e urqigbe 14', which is thereby "partly or' wholly 'e'izpo'sei.

ession suflicing to ign q ected through abl e 39 e senp ti l l l ,v The-fuel'is cqnd-ucted'fro the-high voltits "normal -po'sition; in 'wfiioh the diiect b61111" tion between the two coinb'u'stibn 'charifiels -i terrupted 15y the spade-shaped inr'nh'r in I, sure chamber 44'. The thitjttlddd "46 "is Joined a't each end toa lever 41 whi'chfoQ'era-tes am the fuel feed regulator 4'1. Th i's js pfefeiablyso b U 'st'ruct'ed that "a small deflection of l'e'ver 4''! has no influence on the fuel reed to nozzle 26, tut as "the deflection increases the fiiel supply is throttled and final-1y shhtofi "entirely" ineXtien'ie cases.

The *pressuregenerated *in the cylinders "tends, I of course, to force the cylinder head away ffofn thejcylimier :block. This would widen'theinterval 'between these bearingsurfaces, which might lead to 'gasleakage and a consequent lo'ss-oflbressure. In order to keep this interval 'at such a ylvidth,v as to-;prevent gas leakage and 'yet p'ermit the pylinder block torotate without freezing fast onthe bearing surfaces 1'] and 12 respectively on the 'stationary'en i e 'block' a special adjustmentfixtureis provided. ,e

In the further portion-ofthe engine block-fhext to the journal and thrust bearings 8 and 10 -"a chamber 48 has been'provided. This contairis a thrust disc 49, which "is axially moveabie and hearson the thrust-bearing I I] *but Hoes *notpartake in the rotation 'o'fshaft 4. Thechambe'r '48 further contains *a '=washershabed p'r'essi1re diaphragm box '50, "which -fi1ls the space betii/"en the 'thrust disc 49 and "the Wall 'of chamber "'48 nearest'the cylinder head. i

fi'rain the ti'flpr oath or we diaphragm 50 issues a bip'e 5|, which 'has 'ah enlarge II tion 52. The diaphragm box 5D is "filled wima fire'ss'ure trahsmitting medium, for instance -oil, so that the level'of the oil iea'ch'es the enlarged portion 52 and partly fills the same with oil, ias iridiated by the dotted line. The low r Port 53 "of the e'r'ilarged' iibe seotion '52 is fitted a check valve which allows the oil to -fiow freely into the diaphragm box to eat on -s y iy 11 1; of it, thus breve'nting s'iidden var ations fof pres; siire indiaph'ragmbox 50. The 'p'ipe 5| -leadson tea pressuie'regmatbr 54. I I I I I The engine 'blooks II I aE-Fe -pr Vid'eIdfGY-i their end, bearing surfaces with cireular "grooves, re'sfieetiirely -55, 56 am 51 58 These "grooves me ed11-ee'rmica-11y both i-r'is'ide *and outside {the rotational path of the "eynnaei and inay be two or more in number. The thawing-shows "two gro ves in each bylinder-h ad, the pesm n of the flight Ef Qcyl-inders "the cylinderla ilative'to the ci l'inder headfi indicated indottea lines 'in Fig. "2. "e f'giooVe's are 'thr ough pipe '59 connected with the pressure rgul 61 54, which latter also has a manuany operated adjusting valves. I I I,

In ord er to allow of the necessal'irythoughslight, displacement bf the cylinder b'locl is, p'artly i relation "to the cylinder head tin; fiartly also in relation to each "other the eritfm Shaft 3 is c'o'nstfucted "of two ftel'e's'e'c'iping iar't's moi; 'Ile in respect to each other, as may "be seen "froth the drawing I I I I 'I l'f'e motoris startd birmeans ofjan "aiiiiil i i motor 'acting oh the 'd reiii i n'g air at the air II 'a'roii'nd the pe ripher'y toward the comb channel 22 or '23 respectively, in "which the air is eorhpress'ed. The continuously fiin'c tional fuel pump feeds in "fuel to the combustioh channel s. When the Cylinder liesoppo'site the combustion cha r'inel at the "end of the coniiirfes sion phase and-the piston is-nearest the cylinder 5 head ignition takes place either "through the agency of the fsparliblug 25 hr through the heat generated "by c iniqres'sion "Ignition takes blaee siihuI'taneoi islynftwo "opi iosite 'cirlindi's, one "in e'aoh ylinder meek. Part of "the explosion "fires sii'i'e in ftheseftwo cylinders fisft'aken up by the eonnctin'giodsfwhich be'ar in disposition to one antithe'r o' n the aii'xilia'i'y fiise I9, butone 'foree component is given a peripheral "direction by aiigiebetw'een thetwo main parts of the motor, which-causes the inotoito bgin'to turn. Aitjthe end of the working "phase the fcyl'ind'er reaches theexhaust sbrt zi or z'a, 'andjthe gases 'g'o 'oiit eh dug-h the-manifold. Immediately theit'e'af ver, howi er, the oylifider 'takesih f'f'resh fair aga n through the "intake port; as 'a'bov'e described. 'Ffsh air inay pos's'ihlybeintioducedunder pres 'siire, for example I-b'y mean of a "compressor. The process a-boi e described takes place in each of the' 'iflinde'rs-"in tii'rn, Beforeohe cylinder just beginning its Workin'gfiihase "h'asentirely fia'ssjetl the connecting combustio chanri'e'l'the "next eyiinder, filled with offip1 ed air already reaches this enamel, when the ignited -fuel a'ir mixtu1'e ih the nibiis'tidh channel miire's "with the "fresh 'air'in the latter oylihd'e'r -andthis cylinder also eht'e'fs up6n its work ng phase. I Ignitibh in the 'c'onibus't ion cfianhelus therfore*continuous';

7 pressure and injurious stresses arise, since the axial force components of the explosions do not neutralize each other in this case.

If, for instance, the pressure in the left (in the drawing) side of the motor is higher this pressure will propagate itself through the pressure tube 24 and pipe 43 to the pressure chamber 44, where it will impinge on the spade-shaped lever arm therein and cause this to be displaced to the right from its neutral position, which in turn opens the connection with the combustion channel 23 in the right side of the motor and allows the pressure to equalize. At the same time the guide-rod 46 is displaced to the left against its spring, operating the lever 41 of the fuel feed regulator 4|. This latter may preferably be so adjusted that the fuel feed is not affected by small pressure differences which can be equalized directly through the pipe 43.

If the difference in pressure is very large the guide-rod is displaced so far that the fuel feed regulator 41 throttles the supply of fuel more and more, which necessarily reduces the excess pressure. In the extreme case that one half of the motor does not function at all the fuel supply is shut off entirely by this arrangement and the motor stops.

It may occur when the motor runs that abnormally large quantities of combustion gases leak out through the interstice between the rotating cylinder block and the bearing surface of the cylinder head in the stationary part of the motor because the interval between them has become too large. In such a case these leakagegases are trapped primarily in the concentrical grooves 55, 56 and 51, 58 in the cylinder heads [I and I2. The pressure in the grooves rises and propagates itself through the pipeline 59 to the pressure regulator 54 and on to the enlarged portion 52 of pipe which connects the pressure regulator 54 with the pressure membrane box 50, which latter is thereby expanded and consequently displaces the thrust disc 49 to the left (in the drawing). This bears via the thrust bearing ID on the shaft section 4 and displaces this also to the left, causing the interval between the cylinder block and cylinder head to close and the gas leakage to decrease. The excess pressure in the grooves 55, 55 is equalized by the adjustable valve 60, through which the gas can escape, in consequence of which the oil from the pressure membrane box 50 flows slowly back again through the valve in part 53 to the enlarged portion 52 of pipe 5| until the normal interval is again attained. The normal leakage pressure in the grooves 55, 56 may thus be predetermined by means of valve 60, and thus also the normal bearing play between the cylinder body and head. The valve 53 for retarding the oil flow is important, since if it did not exist variations in the gas pressure in the pressure regulator 54 would be all too quickly followed by oil pressure variations in the pressure membrane box 50. This would cause rapid axial oscillations of shaft section 4 and the parts connected with it, which would naturally be injurious.

The internal combustion motor as set forth in this invention functions, then, as a two cycle motor and operates, as one may conclude from the above, remarkably evenly and free from vibration. The motor may be caused to run in either direction as desired without alterations. The space required for the motor is considerably less in relation to the cylinder volume than that of other internal combustion motors. This makes it particularly suitable, for instance, as a motor for vehicles. It goes without saying that several motor units of the kind described may be coupled in series at need. The regulator arrangements and the like described in connection with the motor must, of course, be considered as one example of how these principles may be put into practice, which does not exclude the possibility of using other arrangements with like function to ensure the operation of the motor according to the terms of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In an internal combustion engine having opposed banks of cylinders with pistons acting upon a common driving disc set at equal acute angles with respect to each said bank of cylinders, a separate cylinder head for each of said banks of cylinders, a combustion channel formedin each of said cylinder heads and a pressure equalization tube connecting said combustion channels to equalize any pressure differences in said channels.

2. In an internal combustion engine having opposed banks of cylinders with pistons acting upon a common driving disc set at acute angles with respect to each said bank of cylinders, a separate cylinder head for each of said banks of cylinders, a combustion channel formed in each of said cylinder heads, a pressure equalization tube connecting said combustion channels to equalize any pressure differences in said channels, said pressure equalization tube including a pressure chamber, a pressure equalization device mounted for operation within said pressure chamber, a throttle connected with each of said combustion channels, a throttle control rod connecting the throttles for each of said combustion channels, and means for operatively connecting said pressure equalization device with said throttle control rod to equalize the pressure.

3. In an internal combustion engine a cylinder head, a cylinder block, means for mounting said cylinder head and cylinder block for relative rotary movement one over the other during operation of the engine, means to urge said head and block together to prevent leakage of gases between the two and means responsive to increase in leakage pressure to increase the force urging said head and block together.

4. Structure as defined in claim. 3 wherein said responsive means is a diaphragm device op.- erable on the means for mounting said cylinder head and cylinder block for relative rotary movement.

5. Structure as defined in claim 4 wherein leakage gas receiving grooves are formed in the face of one of said head and block where they rotate one over the other, and connecting means are provided between said grooves and said diaphragm device.

6. Structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said connecting means is a pipe with an enlargement therein for reception of the pressure transmission medium from the diaphragm device, said pipe also including a check valve therein for retarding flow of said pressure transmission medium in one direction.

'7. In an internal combustion engine an elongated housing, a shaft mounted Within said housing, an annular chamber formed in said housing and surrounding said shaft, a member in said chamber for exerting an endwise thrust on said shaft, a diaphragm device in said chamber formed for actuation upon said member, a pressure medium conducting conduit extending through the wall of said diaphragm device, a cylinder head at one end of said housing, a cylinder block mounted on said shaft in opposed rotary relation with respect to said cylinder head, said head and block having opposed surfaces which slide upon one another during the relative rotation of said head and block, formed in the said surface on said head being recessed in the form of an annular channel to receive gases tending to leak out between said surfaces and a conduit extending from said channel and joined with the said pressure medium conducting conduit, whereby any increase in the pressure of gases tending to leak out between said head and said block will be transmitted to said diaphragm device, which will in turn affect said thrust member to cause endwise movement of said shaft and consequent drawing of said block against said head.

EERO' MATIAS JARVINEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

